Scalp massage implement



April 26, 1955 R. KAHN SCALP MASSAGE IMPLEMENT Filed Oct. 7. 1953 INVENTOR.

RUDOLPH KAHN ATTORNEY United States Patent SCALI MASSAGE IMPLEMENT Rudolph Kabn, New York, N. Y.

Application October 7, 1953, Serial No. 384,603

12 Claims. (Cl. 128-44) This invention relates to massage apparatus, and more particularly to an implement for scalp massage.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve scalp massage implements. A more particular object is to provide such an implement which will tend to simulate the finger action of manual massage. For this purpose the implement is provided with a plurality of fingers which are relatively movable. The mechanism is simplified by dividing the fingers into two groups and moving only one group relative to the other.

A more particular object is to improve the effectiveness of the scalp massage by staggering the position of the fingers so that a movable finger tends to move a part of the scalp which is disposed opposite the space between two holding fingers. For this purpose I provide an odd number of fingers engaging the scalp, the said fingers being divided into two groups, one having an odd number of fingers, and the other having an even number of fingers, with the latter disposed opposite the spaces between the former. In the preferred form shown there are five fingers, as in a human hand.

A further object of the invention is to make it possible to adjust the spacing or spread between the relatively movable fingers. For this purpose the stationary fingers are mounted on a plate, which in turn is adjustable toward or away from the movable fingers, as by means of an adjusting screw and knob.

To accomplish the foregoing and other objects, my invention resides in the scalp massage implement and the elements thereof, as are more particularly described in the following specification. The specification is accompanied by a drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom view of a massage implement embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned view taken in the plane of the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken approximately in the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the scalp massage implement comprises a plurality of relatively stationary fingers 12, 14 and 16, and a plurality of movable fingers 18 and 20, together with a motor generally designated 22, and appropriate gearing for reciprocating the movable fingers 18 and 20 toward and away from the stationary fingers 12, 14 and 16. The implement further comprises spread adjusting means generally designated 24, for adjusting Elie spread or spacing between the stationary and movable ngers.

It will be noted that there are an odd number of fingers divided into two groups, and that the even fingers 18 and 20 are disposed opposite the spaces between the odd fingers 12, 14 and 16. In preferred form there are five fingers as shown, and the fingers are disposed symmetrically with respect to a central axis extending in the direction of movement.

Considering the arrangement in greater detail, the motor 22 has a worm 26 secured at the end of the projecting motor shaft 28. Worm 26 mesh-es with a worm gear 30, which in turn carries a crank pin 32. The crank pin 32 is received in a bifurcated crank follower 34 which may be formed integrally with a slide 36. This is reciprocable on a slide rod 38, and it has a narrowed portion 40 which passes through a slot 42 in the stationary cover plate 44. A slide plate 46 rests on cover plate 44, and is secured to the slide, as by means of screws 48. The slide plate 46 has fixedly secured thereto a pair of pins 50 each of which receives a rubber finger. The rubber 2,706,980 Patented Apr. 26, 1955 'ice fingers here shown are cylindrical, with angularly disposed ends, the angle as shown at 52 causing the group of fingers to better conform to the curvature of the scalp. It will be understood that the pins 50 may be fluted or roughened to better secure the rubber fingers thereto.

From the foregoing description and from inspection of the drawing it will be understood that when the motor is energized through its flexible supply cord 54, only a fragment of which is shown, the movable lingers 18 and 20 are rapidiy reciprocated in the direction of the slide bar 38 and slot 42, or toward and away from the relatively stationary fingers 12, 14 and 16.

Although I show the use of both a slide bar 38 and a slot 42, it will be understood that either of these may be designed to alone serve to properly support and guide the slide 36.

The stationary fingers 12, 14 and 16 are carried on fixed pins 60 projecting upwardly from a plate 62, which in turn is secured by screws 64 to a spread adjusting slide 66. This is internally threaded to mate with an adjusting screw 68. The latter is secured against axial movemerit, and at its outer end carries the adjusting knob 24 previously referred to. It will be understood that rotation of the knob 24 moves the adjusting slide 66 toward or away from the movable fingers. For this purpose a narrowed top portion of the slide passes through a slot 70 in the cover plate 44. If desired the threaded portion of the slide may be split and dimensioned to resiliently grip the screw with a frictional grip, thus better locking the adjustment.

It may be pointed out that the body portion of the motor 22 is small enough in diameter to act as a handle for the implement. The motor axis is disposed generally perpendicular to the surface of the scalp being massaged. In the drawing the device is shown inverted from its normal position of use. By disposing the motor directly over the fingers the motor itself provides a desired pressure at the ends of the'fingers, thus making the implement easier to use than would be the case were it necessary to continuously exert manual pressure toward the scalp.

The housing of motor 22 is expanded or flared outwardly along one diameter as shown at 72 in Fig. 2, though not along the transverse diameter, there being no expansion as viewed in Fig. 3. The plate 44 may be die cast, and in such case is formed integrally with a locating flange indicated at 74 in Fig. 3. This flange is deepened at the ends of plate 44, as shown at 76 in Fig. 2. Bearing webs 78 may extend between the parts 76, and in Fig. 3 it will be-seen that these webs act as hearings to receive the journals 80 of the crank shaft. More specifically, the crank pin 32 is secured between worm gear 30 and a crank disc 82, both of which have journals received in bearings, and the latter may be split to receive the journals, or the journals may themselves be removable axially as by being. screw-connected to the worm gear and crank disc.

These parts may all be assembled on plate 44 before the latter is added to the motor housing. The plate is held in position by a number of screws, in this case three screws indicated at 84 in Fig. l, which are received in thickened lugs or bosses projecting inwardly from the edge of the motor housing.

If desired the free end of the motor shaft outside the worm 26 may be received in a bearing 86 (Fig. 2), the latter being formed integrally with plate 44. The motor housing may be slotted or cut away, as shown at 88, to clear the end portion of screw 68 just inside the adjusting knob 24. Thepins 50 and 60 may be secured to the plates 46 and 62, respectively, by riveting the same in position, as is shown in the upper portion of Fig. 3, and in the upper left portion of Fig. 2.

It is believed that the method of constructing and using my improved scalp massage implement, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the following claims.

1. A scalp massage implement havinn fl plurality of relatively stationary fingers and a plurality of movable fingers, said fingers being spaced from one another yet so close together as to all bear simultaneously against a part only of a human scalp of normal size, a motor and appropriate gearing driven by said motor for reciprocating the movable fingers toward and away from the stationary fingers, and spread adjusting means for adjusting the spread or spacing between the stationary and movable fingers.

2. A scalp massage implement having a plurality of relatively stationary fingers and a plurality of movable fingers, a motor and appropriate gearing driven by said motor for reciprocating the movable fingers toward and away from the stationary fingers, and spread adjusting means for adjusting the spread or spacing between the stationary and movable fingers, said spread adjusting means including an adjusting screw and knob extending in the direction of a line between the stationary and movable fingers, and a slide carrying said stationary fingers and moved in response to rotation of the screw.

3. A scalp massage implement comprising an odd number of fingers divided into two groups, one group having an odd number of fingers and the other group having an even number of fingers, a motor and appropriate gearing driven by said motor for rapidly reciprocating one group toward and away from the other, the even fingers being disposed opposite the spaces between the odd fingers.

4. A scalp massage implement comprising five fingers divided into two groups, one group having three fingers and the other group having two fingers, a motor and appropriate gearing driven by said motor for rapidly reciprocating one group toward and away from the other, the two fingers being disposed opposite the spaces between the three fingers.

5. A scalp massage implement comprising five fingers divided into two groups, one group having three fingers and the other group having two fingers, a motor and appropriate gearing driven by said motor for rapidly reciprocating one group toward and away from the other, the two finger and three finger groups being disposed symmetrically with respect to an axis extending in the direction of relative movement of the groups.

6. A scalp massage implement comprising five fingers divided into two groups, one group having three fingers and the other group having two fingers, a motor and appropriate gearing driven by said motor, for rapidly reciprocating the two fingers toward and away from the three fingers, the two fingers being disposed opposite the spaces between the three fingers.

7. A scalp massage implement having a plurality of relatively stationary fingers and a plurality of relatively movable fingers divided into two groups, one group having three fingers and the other group having two fingers, a motor and appropriate gearing driven by said motor for rapidly reciprocating one group toward and away from the other, the two fingers being disposed opposite the spaces between the three fingers, and spread adjusting means for adjusting the spread or spacing between the stationary and movable fingers, said spread adjusting means including a fixed adjustable plate carrying said stationary fingers.

8. A scalp massage implement having a plurality of relatively stationary fingers and a plurality of relatively movable fingers divided into two groups, one group having three fingers and the other group having two fingers, a motor and appropriate gearing driven by said motor for rapidly reciprocating one group toward and away from the other, the two fingers being disposed opposite the spaces between the three fingers, spread adjusting means for adjusting the spread or spacing between the stationary and movable fingers, said spread adjusting means including an adjusting screw and knob extending in the direction of a line between the stationary and movable fing-ers, and a slide carrying said stationary fingers and moved in response to rotation of the screw.

9. A scalp massage implement having a plurality of relatively stationary fingers and a plurality of relatively movable fingers divided into two groups, one group having three fingers and the other group having two fingers, a motor and appropriate gearing driven by said motor for rapidly reciprocating one group toward and away from the other, the two finger and three finger groups being disposed symmetrically with respect to an axis extending in the direction of relative movement of the groups, spread adjusting means for adjusting the spread or spacing between the stationary and movable fingers, said spread adjusting means including an adjusting screw and knob extending in the direction of the aforesaid axis between the stationary and movable fingers, and a slide carrying said stationary fingers and moved in response to rotation of the screw.

10. A scalp massage implement as defined in claim 1,

in which the motor has a housing and in which the said housing is small enough in diameter to act as a handle for the implement, and in which the motor shaft carries a worm meshing with a worm gear which drives a crank which is straddled by a bifurcated crank follower connected to a slide which carries the movable fingers. 11. A scalp massage implement as defined in claim 4, 111 which the motor has a housing and in which the said housing is small enough in diameter to act as a handle for the implement, and in which the motor shaft carries a worm meshing with a worm gear which drives a crank which is straddled by a bifurcated crank follower connect-ed to a slide which carries the movable fingers.

12. A scalp massage implement as defined in claim 7, in which the motor has a housing and in which the said housing is small enough in diameter to act as a handle for the implement, and in which the motor shaft carries a Worm meshing with a worm gear which drives a crank which is straddledby a bifurcated crank follower connected to a slide which carries the movable fingers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,766 Ingram Jan. 20, 1903 1,623,124 Laufe Apr. 5, 1927 2,148,661 Thierer Feb. 28, 1939 

